Heat-exchange apparatus



Dec. 24, 1929. GQ w. WATTS HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Filed July 27, 1925Wiz/@772.9% @of e Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEGEORGE W. WATTS, OF WHITING, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD OI: COMPANYOF WHITING, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUSApplication led J'uly 27, 1925.

The present invention relates to .improvements in heat exchangeapparatus and more particularly to methods and apparatus for preventingsuch devices from becoming gas bound. In heat exchange devicesfor useinl y tamination of the rened constituents with the unrelined freshstock, This will be fully understood from the following description, inwhich apparatus for carrying the invention into effect, is shownsomewhat diagram-- matically and in section.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 5 designatesthe upper portion of a fractionating column or other like device, whichis surmounted by a heat exchange device 6, serving in the present'instance as a reiiux'condenser. In the form illustrated, this device isprdednternally with the spaced tube which extend the tubes 9 servingforthe pas-V sage of vapors through the device.

A suitable cooling medium is introduced in controlled quantities throughthe pipe 10 into the space between the tube plates 7 and 8 andsurrounding the tubes 9. The cooling medium makes its exit through thepipe 11.

For the proper operation of a heat exchange device of the type hereinset forth, it is necessary that the space between the tube plates andsurrounding the tubes 9 be completely surrounded byv the cooling medium,which is ordinarily a liquid such as water, oil, a condensible gas orthe like, but may be gas (i. e. with air in it). In the operation ofsuch devices, it frequently occurs that, in the flow of the coolingmedium through the inlet pipe to the exit pipe therefor, a certainportion of the space between the tube plates 7 and 8 be- 'comes chargedwith -gases or vapors forced Serial No` 46,304.

out of the cooling medium by the heat applied thereto or withincondensible gas, such as air, when the cooling medium is a condensiblegas, and these gases or vapors collect in a remote part of the space,preventing access of the cooling medium thereto. In the form illustratedin the drawing, this gas bound space is shown and is designated by thenumeral 12.

In accordance with this invention, the cooling medium passing out of theheat exchange device through the exit pipe 11 passes throughthe throatof a Venturi tube 13 and thence into the discharge line 14. The Venturitube 13 is surrounded by a suitable casing. 15 and openings 16 areprovided from this casing to the interior of the throat of the Venturitube. A valved `tube 17 connects that portion of the space in the heatexchange device occupied by the cooling medium in which gas tends tocollect with the interior of the chamber 15. The passage of the coolingmedium -A discharged through the exit pipe 11 through the throat of theventuri causes suctionto be exerted through the chamber l5 and theconnection 17 with the gas bound portion of the heat exchange device,and-thereby withdraws the collected gas and permits the entire spacebetween the tube plates and surrounding the tubes to be occupied by thecoolplates 7 and 8, betWeerrn-fr medium and it likewise improves thecirculat1on\ofthe\cooling medium through the device. The tub`e`l7 `isvalved so that, after removal of the gas or vapor causing-gas binding,the iow of the cooling medium therethrough may be prevented.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with thespecific details of apparatus suitable for carrying it into effect, itis not intended that these details shall be regarded as limitations uponthe scope of the invention, excepting so far as included in theaccompanying claims.

I claim:

1. In a heat exchange device having a space occupied by a heat transfermedium, means for supplying a heat transfer medium to said space, exitmeans through which said heat transfer medium is caused to flow afterleaving said space, means for causing the exit iiow of the heat transfermedium to produce a pressure depression, and means for utilizing saidpressure depression to remove collected gas from the space occupied bythe heat transfer medium. A

2. In a heat exchange device having a space v occupied by a heattransfer medium, means for causing the heat transfer medium to flow intosaid space, an exit pipe for the discharge of the heat transfer mediumfrom said space, o a Venturi tube through which the discharged heattransfer medium' asses, and means for connecting a portion o said spacein the heat transfer device in which gas tends to 'collect with thethroat of said'venturi, thereby With- 15' drawing gas from said portionof the space.

GEORGE W. WATTS.

